retrospec | ayano's theory of bruises

ayano's theory of bruises - 9/19, 4:15PM

Ummmm

Is there anyone on here who’s like...good at make up that can help me...Like one of those instagram models or something...

I was clumsy enough to give myself a black eye, and I need to hide it from my parents so they don’t freak out or get the wrong idea…

[A picture of Ayano follows, purple and black underline her left eye--thankfully not particularly swollen. Even so, whatever she smashed into must have smashed into her pretty hard. She wears a weak, sheepish smile on her face despite the heavy bruise. If it weren't there, this would be a perfectly good Facebook profile picture, in fact.]

It’s not that bad, right? Silly me...
Maybe I should just do the emo hair thing...?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A bit...[Lightly brushes her thumb over the bruise.]

Malik, yeah. [She starts walking forward along with Naoto.]

He was someone I was trying to make friends with. We had chatted on the network a bit and...we both had detention yesterday. The teacher left the room for a few minutes, and then Malik and I...got into it.

And, well, I think I already told you what happened next.

[A weak, weary smile.]

I got clocked.

You did, yes. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind telling me again? With as much detail as you can remember.

--it might make it easier when you're talking to an officer if you've practiced telling it to someone else, first.

[She frowns, but only briefly before cracking another smile. The matter-of-factness on that "You did, yes" is almost comical. Naoto is...quirky.]

...Yeah, that's a good idea, okay.

[She folds her hands behind her back as she walks, fixating her gaze on Naoto's shoes.]

We were in detention together, and the teacher was out of the room. We started arguing, because he didn't want to be friends with me, or talk to me. I poked him in the arm with my pencil, and he through it across the room. All of a sudden, he started yelling at me, about how I don't know anything about him...How he's this bad guy that I shouldn't bother talking to.

[Some brief eye contact follows.]

What was I supposed to do? He seemed...sad almost. Unstable and lonely, so I prodded him a bit more, and I really shouldn't have. He said...

Um, and then, he said...

[Wow, this part is hard to get out, isn't it? Ayano just stops talking completely for a quiet moment to compose herself.]

Ah...That he killed people. And...I think, he was just talking about the memories? [Taps the side of her own head.]

I didn't believe him, and he got angrier, and angrier and stood up, telling me what a monster he is...I told him that if he was really as bad as he says he is, he should hit me. He should hit me as hard as he could. Me, a defenseless, five foot one girl...He should just hit me and prove it.

He did.

Which...you know. [Smiles weakly and brushes some of her hair over the wounded left eye, as if still slightly embarrassed by it.]

I just kind of crumbled, haha...I fell backwards, and hit the ground hard. My back is still kind of sore from it...I was just staring up at him, and my face stung so, so badly. I started crying. All of a sudden, I was hurt, and scared that he was going to come keep hitting me...I covered my face, and I just cried. I felt so weak, and dumb, so dumb, Naoto. I couldn't think. Eventually, I dragged myself up and walked to the front of the classroom and sat there, covering my face in my arms and crying. Malik...got up and left. I haven't seen him since. I don't know if anybody has...

[Finally, looking back to Naoto. Her eyes are a bit red and misty at this point. Was recalling all that really so painful? Maybe just...uncomfortable.]

How'd I do?

[Naoto listens as they walk, not saying a word as Ayano gets it out. She frowns to herself. This Malik sounds dangerous. Unstable, at least. It seems wrong to judge someone based on their past self's actions, but it's also a little difficult to not feel that said actions might bleed over into this life.

Kanji bumps up against Ayano, as if sensing her emotional distress, and whines softly.] You did very well. You remembered important details and told your point of view comprehensively. If you can tell the officer on duty exactly what you told me, I think that will be more than sufficient. [She pauses.] Thank you for trusting me with that.

[Another pause.] They will likely ask you if you want to press charges. What will you say to that?

[Absent mindedly petting Kanji as she keeps her attention on Naoto.]

No, thank you...I...

[Hm. She has to stop and think, but keeps look at Naoto nonetheless. He has an interesting, handsome face. Very serious. He's probably been through some tough things, hasn't he? She briefly wonders, before realizing to reply to his question.]

No...? Should I press charges? [A weary laugh.] I don't even completely know what pressing charges means...

If I didn't press charges, would he just...get off scot free?

It's up to you. Pressing charges can mean different things, depending on the severity of the crime. For more serious crimes, the police are asking if you fully intend to cooperate with their investigation and trial, if need be; they don't want to waste time if their only witness doesn't want to, say, testify in court.

[She shifts slightly.] Given that battery is a misdemeanor, however, an officer can't arrest someone for a misdemeanor they didn't personally witness. If they did see your testimony as evidence of a crime, it's effectively asking you if you want to citizen's arrest him-- which they would carry out as your surrogates.

To be honest, it's unlikely that anything will happen to him. You have the story and the physical evidence, but if it is a first-time offense and you did say something that could be seen as provoking, they might be inclined to let him go with a warning.

The reason that I'd suggest you file a complaint nonetheless is so that there's a paper trail. The next time he does something-- if he does-- they'll be able to refer to a history of violent acts. It makes it less likely that he'll get off "scot free" in the future.

[It's almost a little disheartening. She doesn't want him to get a warning. She wants them to acknowledge that something is wrong, and to get him help...The words that are coming out of Naoto's mouth are so complicated and scary. She hangs her head a bit, feeling as dumb and stupid as usual.]

I'll...press charge then, I think. Whatever happens...something should happen, right? I need to do something...

[A slight, likely forced smile.]

At least I picked the right person to get help from...I wouldn't have any idea what to do without you here explaining it to me...

[And another pat to Kanji.]

And you, too!

I would say you would like to, yes. That's the way to lodge a formal complaint, and as I said, it means there's a record if he does anything violent later.

But as is, especially given that he's a minor, it's unlikely that he'd face any significant penalty for the crime. Possibly just community service.

I'm happy that I can at least walk you through this process. I understand it might be intimidating.

[Ayano leans slightly as she walks. They're getting closer to the Police Station and her nerves are starting to act up. She accidentally bumps shoulders with Naoto, and presents a weary smile in apology.]

I just want people to know about him. I think he needs help, is all.

[Folds her hands back behind her once more, taking slower, more careful steps.]

I'm kind of nervous about school. Stuff people might say after they find out what actually happened to me, and why my eye is all messed up...
[SIGH.]
No more bad rumors about me, please...

[Naoto just nods at the wordless apology, a wordless acceptance in response.] That... I'm not sure you can get for him. He might need to seek it out himself, unless he does something much worse.

[She glances sidelong at the older girl.] Why would you become the targets of rumors? It strikes me that he would be the one to get the lion's share of the gossip.

Because boys like to say mean things about girls. Bad things... Weird things...

[Nudges Naoto's arm with a weak smile.]

No offense.

[And turns her gaze back forward, towards the Police Station on the horizon that's getting bigger and bigger.]

I just wanna be me, you know? Having what happened to me sitting on my face...I don't like it very much, Naoto. Not at all...

[Oh. Right.] H-hah, none taken, I assure you. [Excellent cover, Naoto.] I can hardly blame you for that.

Even so... teasing can be cruel, but actual crimes and police reports are something else entirely.

Whatever they say at school, you've done nothing wrong.

[Seeing Naoto lose his composure, for whatever reason he seems to lose it for, is immensely satisfying, somehow. There's a glimmer of something behind the outward strength that's...endearing? Ayano then gives him a warm look when he tells her she's done nothing wrong. There's no need to thank him again, is there? The look should be enough for now. Gratefulness.

But her feet slow and eventually stop as they reach the police station. The air seems to get thick and cold. Her fingers tremble slightly, idly stretching outward towards Naoto's hand before recoiling back without ever making contact. It's scary, and the situation is real again.]

I guess this is it, huh...?

It is. [She nods.] Do you want me to come inside with you, or should I wait here with Kanji until you're finished? Whichever would be more comfortable for you I'm fine with.

[Ayano takes a slow step ahead of Naoto, towards the doors, balling her fists at her sides. Deep breath...

Unfurling one fist, trembling fingertips reach for the doors, the other's knuckles slowly turning white.

It takes a few seconds, but she cocks her head back to look at Naoto.]

...I'm sorry.

[A false smile.]

Looks like I can't do it by myself after all, hehe...

[Naoto shakes her head, trying to give Ayano a somewhat comforting smile.

She's not very good at comfort?] That's all right. You don't need to apologize.

You're being brave trying to do this already. Let me tie Kanji up out here and I'll be right with you.

[It's...an interesting smile. Like he's not entirely comfortable with smiling, or maybe he doesn't smile very often? It's sweet though, and he doesn't seem like he's faking it all. He's trying to give her strength, right? Passing over into a language that maybe he's not as familiar in, just for her.

Come to think of it, as time is passing in slow motions and her eyes stay focused on Naoto's face, when has she ever seen this before?

Seeing Naoto around school before they knew each other, the picture on the network, and this whole time that they've been walking together.

This is the very first time she's ever seen him look like this. A little awkward and stiff, but he's smiling.

It's a nice smile.

She takes a mental snapshot before transitioning back into reality. Her feet guide her backwards, positioning herself behind Naoto where her shoulder lightly bumps against his arm, purely, well, probably, on accident.]

Ah, Naoto, okay...

L-Lead the way...! [And maybe, for a second, her heart started to flutter.]

[Naoto isn't very used to smiling, no. She's far too serious. That's probably a problem.

Ayano looks at her for perhaps only a second or two too long, but it's enough to make Naoto's cheeks start to warm. She reaches up to tug the brim of her cap absentmindedly, before reaching down to tie Kanji's lead around the railing of the stairs.] Stay. Good boy.

[She then looks back up to Ayano.] Let's go in, then.

[She climbs the stairs into the police station.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ayano's theory of bruises - 9/19, 4:15PM

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject